The Irish standard., 1887-01-01
A LETTER FROM IRELAND.
nClareman" Makes Few Remarks Con-
cerning the Condition Of the
Irish Tenant Farmer,
THE SNEAKING C0NTRIVANCES
By Which the British Government Hope
to Create Uprisipgs to Furnish an
Excuse for Coercion.

Special Correspondence of The Irish Standard.
S1R,-My friend, Mr.. J. J. Kinnane,
having dropped me line requesting q
brief account of the state of this coun-
try, 1 beg to forward the annexed, re-
GREETING at the same time that he has
not selected some ADLER friend and one
better versed in politics than I am.
However, the task is not an over diff
cult one, and may be shortly told in re-
ply to the query, What is the position
of the tenant farmer ?" For centuries
the benevolent ~ rulers of Ireland have
spared no effort to crush out her
manufactures, and it must be con
fessed with regret, they have only too
we'll succeeded. True, vigorous efforts,
are being made for the past few years
TO revive manufactures in this country,
in places where an abundant supply OF
water may be availed Of to work the
machinery, and the busy hum OF labor
may now be heard in stores long de-
serted and where tine drowsy owl was
the only occupant; but as each begin
ming must be weak and as these tacto~
ries have to be started in a country i'm
poverished by misrule, and its life
blood drained out by clan OF aristo-
cratic sots, neither useful nor orna-
mental, and having at the same time TO
face the fierce competition OF countries
where such manufactures have been
fostered ant7 petted. it is little surprise
that the progress made is not SO salts
factory as could be wished for, and that
the effect; Oh the working classes OF the
country, except in a few and far be-
tween districts, is scarcely perceptible.
Still there is no reason to be despond-
ent for the future, as the country is now
alive to the Importance OF encouraging
home pro .ucts, thanks to the exertiOns
OF the Ilish parliamentary Party, and
to the host of ardent patriots who have
awakened the people to a sense OF duty
in this matter. But, at the present, as
I have already remarked, it is to the
condition of the farmer we must look
when considering the state of the coun-
try Now what is the condition Of the
farmer? 1t is acknowledged by all
parties that the year just closed was
one of The worst, both as regards pro-
duce and prices, for many years. Po-
tatoes, the staple food of the cottier and
Door tenant, returned not more than
one-half the crop of the previous year.
Oats, the principal, and may add the
only cereal raised, was fully thirty per
cent. behind last year both in produce
and price. Wheat need not be taken
into account as owing to the wet sea-
sous and low prices NO sane person at
tempts to grow it. Butter yielded a
fair return, but was sold alta figure that
scarcely realized the working expenses.
Farmers dependent on the sale Of fat
cattle in the early part Of the season Sc
cured moderate prices, but towards the
close, beef was sold at the low figure Of
35s per cwt.
You will NOW ask how Can farmers
pay. rent this year The answer is
thatin most estates it is quite impos-
sible. pitiable. indeed, would be their
position had not a deliverer in the per-
son Of Mr.. John Dillon, NJ. P, come to
the rescue with his ''Plan of Cam
paign." Of.the many devices adopted
by the National League to conquer the
power of the landlords, backed as they
are by au aristocratic Tory coercion
government, there is none to compete,
both for effectiveness and simplicity,
with the ''Plan of Campaign" Mr..
Dillon and the United Ireland news
paper are truly the salvation of the
tenant farmers this winter. Instead of
the tenants, as heretofore, going to the
a :,ent OF the landlord requesting re-
:duction of rent, they quietly meet,
agree as to what rent they can pay,
offer this sum to the lord of the soil,'
and should he refuse to accept it, the
rent is Immediately handed over to a !
treasurer, and should proceedings be
taken against any one of the tenants,